ACCESSORY HOLDER
An accessory holder including a housing for holding an accessory and a switching mechanism operable independently from at least two locations on the holder for actuating an accessory in the housing. In particular, the accessory holder can be mounted on a T-grip.
The present invention relates to accessory holders in general and, in particular, to an accessory holder with an actuator for an accessory held in the accessory holder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an accessory holder forming part of a T-grip for firearms, cameras, and other similar devices requiring accessories. The T-grip can be mounted, as a fore grip, permanently on a pistol or a rifle or, alternatively, it may be mounted on a standard mounting rail, such as a Weaver or Picatinny Rail, or any other rail complementary to the T-grip's mounting rail. The T-grip, as known in the art, may further include an accessory holder for holding accessories, such as a flashlight or a laser pointer. Activation or deactivation of the accessory, when in the holder, presents a difficulty to the user who must remove his hand from the grip in order to reach the switch on the accessory. There are known conventional T-grips with a button or actuator on one side or in the handle, for activating the accessory. However, these actuators are in a fixed location and cannot be adjusted for different users.
Accordingly, there is a long felt need for an accessory holder with a flexible actuating mechanism, and it would be very desirable to have an accessory holder, especially in a T-grip, which includes a versatile switching mechanism for activation from different locations on the holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an accessory holder including a switching mechanism for actuating an accessory in the holder. The switching mechanism is operable from at least two locations on the holder, for example, from either side of the grip and/or from the rear, so as to turn the accessory on or off.
There is thus provided, according to the present invention, an accessory holder including a housing for holding an accessory and a switching mechanism operable independently from at least two locations on the holder for actuating an accessory in the housing.
According to a preferred embodiment, the switching mechanism includes three actuating buttons, one on each side of the housing and one on the rear.
According to another embodiment, the switching mechanism includes a track defined along the holder, a base reciprocatingly mounted in the track, an actuator coupled to the base and arranged to be disposed adjacent a switch on an accessory in the housing, and at least two actuating buttons coupled to the base for activating the switch by means of the actuator.
There is further provided, according to the invention, a method for forming an accessory holder, the method including providing a housing for holding an accessory and coupling, to the housing, a switching mechanism which is operable independently from at least two locations on the holder for actuating an accessory in the housing.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the switching mechanism includes a track defined along the holder, a base reciprocatingly mounted in the track, an actuator coupled to the base and arranged to be disposed adjacent a switch on an accessory in the housing, and at least two actuating buttons coupled to the base for activating the switch by means of the actuator, and the step of actuating an accessory includes causing linear motion of the base so as to cause the actuator to engage the accessory.
The present invention will be further understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
The present invention relates to an accessory holder including a switching mechanism for actuating an accessory in the holder. The switching mechanism is characterized by being operable from at least two locations on the holder, for example, from either side of the grip and/or from the rear. Thus, left- and right-handed users can utilize a single holder and, if the fingers are occupied, the accessory can be actuated from the rear, using the thumb or the web between the thumb and index finger.
A switching mechanism 50, according to one embodiment of the invention, is shown in an exploded illustration in
In order to permit the user to releasably push base 52 forwards, switching mechanism 50 may include a button 55 for engagement by a finger of the user on each side of the grip, attached to base 52, as through a throughgoing bore 15 on grip 10. Buttons 55 preferably are wave shaped, having one side higher than the other. This permits the button to be coupled to base 52 with either the higher or lower portion of the wave towards the user. In this way, the grip can be customized for the comfort of the user, depending on the length of the user's fingers.
Switching mechanism 50 may further include a rear button 55′ on the rear end of the grip, attached to the rear end of base 52. Rear button 55′ may include a concave engaging surface 65 complementary to the U-shaped web formed between the thumb and the index finger when spread apart. Thus, rear button 55′ may be pressed by the user holding the grip, merely by pressing the inside of his palm against the grip, without moving any of his fingers. Buttons 55 may be attached to base 52 via apertures 56, for example, with fastening pins 57. Similarly, button 55′ may be attached to base 52 with a fastening pin 57′. It will be appreciated that switching mechanism 50 preferably includes a spring 59, or any other mechanism, for returning base 52 to its released position after push-button 42 is pressed. Thus, by pushing any one of the buttons independently, the user causes reciprocating motion of the base to turn the accessory on and off.
In the embodiment illustrated in
T-grip 10 may further include an additional switch, as a part of grip handle 16, allowing the user to activate or deactivate the accessory, merely by applying pressure to grip handle 16. In the embodiment illustrated in
T-grip 10 presents a solution for firm holding of a sub-machine gun or rifle with an electric accessory mounted to it, allowing a convenient activation of the accessory by using either hand of the user. It can also be used as a grip mounted on any device having a complementary mounting rail.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. It will further be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been described hereinabove merely by way of example. Rather, the invention is limited solely by the claims which follow.
Claims
1. An accessory holder comprising:
- a housing for holding an accessory; and
- a switching mechanism operable independently from at least two locations on the holder for actuating an accessory in the housing.
2. The accessory holder according to claim 1, wherein said switching mechanism includes three actuating buttons, one on each side of the holder and one on the rear.
3. The accessory holder according to claim 2, wherein said switching rear actuating button includes a concave engaging surface.
4. The accessory holder according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said side buttons defines a wave shape for engagement by a finger of a user.
5. The accessory holder according to claim 1, wherein said switching mechanism includes:
- a track defined along said holder;
- a base reciprocatingly mounted in said track;
- an actuator coupled to said base and arranged to be disposed adjacent a switch on an accessory in said housing; and
- at least two actuating buttons coupled to said base for activating said switch by means of said actuator.
6. The accessory holder according to claim 5, herein said at least two actuating buttons includes three actuating buttons, one coupled to each side of said base and a third coupled to a rear of said base.
7. The accessory holder according to claim 1, further comprising a T-grip, said accessory holder being coupled to said T-grip.
8. A method for forming an accessory holder, the method comprising:
- providing a housing for holding an accessory; and
- coupling a switching mechanism to said housing, said switching mechanism being operable independently from at least two locations on the holder for actuating an accessory in the housing.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of coupling includes coupling a switching mechanism including:
- a track defined along said holder;
- a base reciprocatingly mounted in said track;
- an actuator coupled to said base and arranged to be disposed adjacent a switch on an accessory in said housing; and
- at least two actuating buttons coupled to said base for activating said switch by means of said actuator; and
- said step of actuating an accessory includes causing reciprocating motion of said base so as to cause said actuator to engage said accessory.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising coupling three actuating buttons to said base, one coupled to each side of said base and a third coupled to a rear of said base, each of said buttons being adapted and configured to cause, independently, reciprocating motion of said base in said track.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 1, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 4, 2009
Patent Grant number: 8109032
Inventor: SAGI FAIFER (MISHMAR HASHIVA)
Application Number: 12/325,292
International Classification: A45F 5/00 (20060101); B23P 11/00 (20060101);